System and method of displaying device information for party formation

ABSTRACT

A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to access the virtual space. The device information may be used to facilitate enhanced party formation between users of the virtual space.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for obtaining deviceinformation of a client computing platform used by a user to interactwith a virtual space of a game and providing the device information toother users to facilitate party formation decisions based on the deviceinformation.

BACKGROUND

Different classes of devices such as laptop computers, tablet computers,gaming consoles, smartphones, and/or other classes of devices may havetechnical capabilities that are different from one another. For example,laptop computers may have different technical capabilities thansmartphones. Furthermore, different types of devices within a givenclass of device may have different capabilities from one another. Forexample, a particular model of smartphone may have different technicalcapabilities than another model of smartphone. Leveraging thesedifferences for gameplay of a game may provide dynamic gamingexperiences for users depending on the class and/or type of device usedto access the game. Furthermore, online games in which party formationmay occur between players (e.g., to form an alliance, co-operativelyplay together as a team, have one user play under the direction ofanother user, etc.) may benefit from being able to view, query, orotherwise obtain device information related to other users.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to an online gaming systemconfigured to display information related to client computing platformsused by users of an online game to facilitate enhanced party formationdecision making by the users. The system may comprise one or morephysical computer processors configured to execute computer programcomponents. The computer program components may comprise a spacecomponent, a device information component, a party formation component,and/or other components

The space component may be configured to execute an instance of avirtual space in which the online game takes place. The space componentmay facilitate presentation of the online game to the users on clientcomputing platforms. The space component may be configured to implementmulti-user parties formed by the users to cooperatively play individualportions of the online game.

The device information component may be configured to obtain deviceinformation indicative of the features and functions of the differentclient computing platforms used by the users to interact with theinstance of the virtual space. Device information may include a firstset of information indicative of the features and functions of a firstclient computing platform used by a first user of the virtual space. Thedevice information may include a second set of information indicative ofthe features and functions of a second client computing platform used bya second user of the virtual space.

The party formation component configured to effectuate presentation ofrequest interfaces configured to receive entry and/or selection fromusers for forming multi-user parties. Request interfaces may include,for viewing by users of the virtual space, the obtained deviceinformation indicative of the features and functions of the differentclient computing platforms used by the users of the virtual space. Theparty formation component may be configured to effectuate presentationof a first request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the first user to form a first multi-user party withother users. The other users may include the second user. The firstrequest interface may include, for viewing by the first user, the secondset of information related to the second client computing platform usedby the second user.

Responsive to request confirmation by the second user, the partyformation component may be configured to process the request to form thefirst multi-user party including the first user and the second user.Processing may include associating the first user and the second userwith the first multi-user party directly or indirectly. The spacecomponent may be configured to thereafter implement the first multi-userparty for the first user and the second user in the virtual space.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of displayinginformation related to client computing platforms used by users of anonline game to facilitate enhanced party formation decision making bythe users. The method may be implemented in a computer system includingone or more physical processors and storage media storingmachine-readable instructions. The method may comprise the operationsof: executing an instance of a virtual space in which the online gametakes place; obtaining device information indicative of the features andfunctions of the different client computing platforms used by the usersto interact with the instance of the virtual space; effectuatingpresentation of request interfaces configured to receive entry and/orselection from users for forming multi-user parties; processing requeststo form multi-user parties; implementing the multi-user parties in thevirtual space; and/or other operation.

Executing an instance of a virtual space in which the online game takesplace may include facilitating presentation of the online game to theusers on client computing platforms. The execution may be configured toimplement multi-user parties formed by the users to cooperatively playindividual portions of the online game.

Device information may include a first set of information indicative ofthe features and functions of a first client computing platform used bya first user of the virtual space, and a second set of informationindicative of the features and functions of a second client computingplatform used by a second user of the virtual space.

Effectuating presentation of request interfaces may include presenting afirst request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the first user to form a first multi-user party withother users, the other users may include the second user. The firstrequest interface may include, for viewing by the first user, the secondset of information related to the second client computing platform usedby the second user. Responsive to request confirmation by the seconduser, an operation of processing the request to form the firstmulti-user party including the first user and the second user byassociating the first user and the second user with the first multi-userparty directly or indirectly may be performed. Thereafter an operationof implementing the first multi-user party for the first user and thesecond user in the virtual space may be performed.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”,and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to obtain and provide deviceinformation to facilitate party formation decisions based on the deviceinformation, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a data flow diagram of providing device informationand in-game capabilities to users based on device information related toa client computing platform used to access the virtual space of a game,according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a data structure configured to storedevice information, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a data structure configured to storein-game capabilities with corresponding device requirements, accordingto an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a data structure configured to storeclasses of devices and corresponding in-game capabilities, according toan aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method of determining in-gamecapabilities based on a device used to access the virtual space of agame, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a method of determining in-gamecapabilities based on predefined associations between different devicesand different in-game capabilities, according to an aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a method of providing in-gamecapabilities based on whether devices meet predefined requirements ofin-game capabilities, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method of obtaining and providingdevice information to facilitate party formation decisions based on thedevice information, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a request interface used to display deviceinformation and allow users to confirm or deny a party formation requestrelated to another user who is making the party formation request,according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an interface used to display device usageinformation relating to a user, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a request interface used to display deviceinformation and allow users to confirm or deny a party formation requestrelated to a party who is making the party formation request, accordingto an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an interface used to display device usageinformation relating to users belonging to a party who is making a partyformation request to form a party with another player, according to anaspect of the invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an interface used to recommend to a user partyformation with users associated with a particular client computingplatform, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a request interface used to display deviceinformation of users to facilitate enhance party formation for a userwishing to initiate party formation requests to form a party with otherusers, according to an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates request interfaces used to display deviceinformation in association with user representations in an instance of avirtual space, according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an online gaming system 1000 configured to displayinformation related to client computing platforms used by users of avirtual space to facilitate enhanced party formation decision making bythe users of the virtual space. The device information may beinformation indicative of the features and functions of the differentclient computing platforms used by the users to interact with aninstance of the virtual space. Providing the virtual space may includehosting the virtual space over a network 155, such as the Internet. Insome implementations, the virtual space may include an online gametaking place in the virtual space. In some implementations, system 100may include a server 120. The server 120 may be configured tocommunicate with one or more client computing platforms 150 according toa client/server architecture. The client computing platforms 150 mayinclude, for example, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a laptop, atablet computer, a desktop computer, a television set-top box, smart TV,a gaming console, and/or other device as described herein and/or otherconsiderations. The users may access the system 100 and/or the virtualspace via client computing platforms 150.

The server 120 may be configured to execute one or more computer programcomponents. The computer program components may include one or more of auser component 124, a space component 126, an interaction component 128,a relationship component 130, a device information component 132, anin-game capabilities component 134, a capabilities assignment component136, a user class component 138, a party formation component 140, and/orother components.

The user component 124 may be configured to access and/or manage one ormore user profiles and/or user information associated with users of thesystem 100. The one or more user profiles and/or user information mayinclude information stored by server 120, one or more of the clientcomputing platforms 150, and/or other storage locations. The userprofiles may include, for example, information identifying users (e.g.,a username or handle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifyinginformation) within the virtual space, security login information (e.g.,a login code or password), virtual space account information,subscription information, virtual currency account information (e.g.,related to currency held in credit for a user), relationship information(e.g., information related to relationships between users in the virtualspace), virtual space usage information, demographic informationassociated with users, interaction history among users in the virtualspace, information stated by users, purchase information of users,browsing history of users, a client computing platform identificationassociated with a user, device information for each client computingplatform used by the user to interact with the virtual space, a phonenumber associated with a user, and/or other information related tousers.

The space component 126 may be configured to execute an instance of thevirtual space in which the online game takes place and to facilitatepresentation of the online game to the users on client computingplatforms. The space component 126 may be configured to implement theinstance of the virtual space executed by the computer components todetermine state of the virtual space. The state may then be communicated(e.g., via streaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or otherstate information) from server 120 to client computing platforms 150 forpresentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a givenclient computing platform 150 may correspond to a view for a usercharacter being controlled by a user via the given client computingplatform 150. The state determined and transmitted to a given clientcomputing platform 150 may correspond to a location in the virtualspace. The view described by the state for the given client computingplatform may correspond, for example, to the location from which theview is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations, azoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or viewparameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may beselectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 150)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual spaceis determined by space component 126 is not intended to be limiting. Thespace component 126 may be configured to express the virtual space in amore limited, or more rich, manner. For example, views determined forthe virtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtualspace may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an eventin a given place within the virtual space. The views may includeadditional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/orother content) that describes particulars of the current state of theplace, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view mayinclude a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space component126, users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As usedherein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group ofobjects) present in the virtual space that represents an individualuser. The user character may be controlled by the user with which it isassociated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interactwith the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space,other objects in the virtual space). The user controlled elementscontrolled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/orcustomized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” ofvirtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., bymanipulation of a user character or other user controlled element,and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space (e.g.,the online game) by controlling one or more of the available usercontrolled elements in the virtual space. Control may be exercisedthrough control inputs and/or commands input by the users through clientcomputing platforms 150. The users may interact with each other throughcommunications exchanged within the virtual space. Such communicationsmay include one or more of textual chat, instant messages, privatemessages, voice communications, and/or other communications.Communications may be received and entered by the users via theirrespective client computing platforms 150. Communications may be routedto and from the appropriate users through server 120 (e.g., throughspace component 126).

The space component 126 may be configured to implement multi-userparties formed by the users of the virtual space. Multi-user parties mayfacilitate cooperative play by the users of the virtual space inindividual portions of the online game. Some aspects of multi-userparties are described in more detail below with reference made to thecapabilities assignment component 136, the party formation component140, and/or other components described herein.

The space component 126 may be configured to implement user roles thatare associated with the ability to perform an in-game action and/orassociated with access to particular in-game content within the virtualspace. For example, access to in-game content within the virtual spacemay refer to access to in-game content associated with the individualportions of the online game accessed by users participating inmulti-user parties. Different classes of client computing platforms maybe associated with different in-game actions and/or different access toin-game content (e.g., described in more detail herein with reference tothe in-game capability component 134, capabilities assignment component136, and/or other computer components described herein).

The interaction component 128 may be configured to monitor interactionsof the users with the virtual space and/or each other within the virtualspace. This may include monitoring, for a given user, one or more oftimes at which the given user is logged in to the virtual space, areasof the virtual space the given user views or interacts with or in, otherusers the given user interacts with, the nature and/or content ofinteractions of the given user with other users, activities participatedin within the virtual space, level, powers, or skill attained in thevirtual space, inventory items obtained in the virtual space, and/orother interactions of the given user with the virtual space and/or otherusers. Some or all of the information generated by interaction component128 in monitoring the interactions of the users may be stored to theuser profiles managed by user component 124.

At a given time, interaction component 128 may determine a set of usersthat are currently engaged with the virtual space and/or a set of usersthat are currently not engaged with the virtual space. Being engagedwith the virtual space may refer to being logged in to the virtualspace, performing some action or interaction within the virtual spacewithin some period of time (e.g., the least 2 minutes), and/or takingsome other action indicating ongoing and contemporaneous engagement withthe virtual space.

The interaction component 128 may be configured to determine, forindividual users, an activity metric that indicates an activity levelwithin the virtual space. The activity metric may be determined based onone or more of log-in frequency, amount of time logged in to the virtualspace within a rolling time period (e.g., over the last day, week,month, or other rolling time period), average amount of time logged into the virtual space over some length of time (e.g., per day, per week,and/or other length of time), average log in session time over a rollingtime period, number of inter-user communications over a length of time,number of inter-user communications per log-in, number of relationshipswith other users in the virtual space, number of new relationships withother users in the virtual space within a rolling time period, amount ofreal world money and/or virtual currency spent in the virtual space,and/or other activity parameters.

The relationship component 130 may be configured to establishrelationships between users within the virtual space. Such relationshipsmay include one or more of friendships, guilds (with guild-mates),alliances, connections, followers, and/or other relationships. Therelationship component 130 may establish relationships based onrelationship requests and acceptances received from users. Establishmentof a relationship may be initiated by a single communication (e.g., arequest) initiated by a given user requesting a relationship between thegiven user and one or more other users. Establishment of a relationshipmay require a first communication from the given user to be approved bythe one or more other users. Relationships may include one or more typesof relationships that have a functional purpose or impact within thevirtual space, and/or one or more types of relationships that a socialconstruct within the virtual space that does not have a functionalresult.

The device information component 132 may be configured to obtain deviceinformation indicative of the features and functions of the differentclient computing platforms 150 used by the users to interact with theinstance of the virtual space and/or an online game taking place in thevirtual space. The device information may include information thatindicates a general class of client computing platforms, a particulartype of client computing platforms, and/or other granularity of clientcomputing platform identifying information. The class of clientcomputing platforms may include general descriptions such as informationindicating that the client computing platform is a desktop computingdevice, a laptop computing device, a tablet device, a mobile device(e.g., smart phone), a gaming console, a smart TV, and/or other generaldescription. The type of client computing platforms may include aparticular brand, model, operating system, and/or other description thatmore specifically identifies the client computing platform 150 used tointeract with the virtual space.

In some embodiments, device information indicative of the features andfunctions of the different client computing platforms may includeactivity metrics (e.g., such as activity metrics determined by theinteraction component 128) which are individually associated with eachof the different client computing platforms used by the users of thevirtual space. The activity metrics associated with a particular clientcomputing platform may be determined based on one or more of log-infrequency when using a particular client computing platform, amount oftime logged in to the virtual space within a rolling time period whenusing a particular client computing platform (e.g., over the last day,week, month, or other rolling time period), average amount of timelogged in to the virtual space over some length of time when using aparticular client computing platform (e.g., per day, per week, and/orother length of time), average log in session time over a rolling timeperiod when using a particular client computing platform, number ofinter-user communications over a length of time when using a particularclient computing platform, number of inter-user communications perlog-in when using a particular client computing platform, number of newrelationships generated with other users in the virtual space within arolling time period when using a particular client computing platform,amount of real world money and/or virtual currency spent in the virtualspace when using a particular client computing platform, and/or otheractivity parameters which may be associated with the individual clientcomputing platform used by the users.

In some embodiments, device information may include a first set ofinformation indicative of the features and functions of a first clientcomputing platform (and/or other client computing platforms) used by afirst user of the virtual space. The first set of information mayinclude at least the class of the first client computing platform usedby the first user. Device information may include a second set ofinformation indicative of the features and functions of a second clientcomputing platform (and/or other client computing platforms) used by asecond user of the virtual space. The second set of information mayinclude at least the class of the second client computing platform usedby the second user. In the examples provided below, and for illustrativepurposes only, the class of the first client computing platform may be a“laptop device” and the class of the second client computing platformmay be a “mobile device”.

The device information component 132 may passively obtain the deviceinformation and/or sets of device information based on communicationswith client computing platform 150 such as by reading headers or otherportions of communications from client computing platform to identifythe device being used to interact with the virtual space. For example,the device information component 132 may read Hypertext TransferProtocol (“HTTP”) headers to determine a browser used to interact withthe virtual space and accordingly identify the client computing platformthat operates the browser. Agents used to interact with the virtualspace other than a browser may be operating on client computing platform150. Such agents may encode the device information in communicationswith server 120.

The device information component 132 may actively obtain the deviceinformation such as by querying or otherwise causing the clientcomputing platform 150 to provide the device information. For example,device information component 132 and/or an agent operating on the clientcomputing platform 150 may cause a prompt for the device information tobe input.

The device information component 132 may determine when a given userchanges the client computing platform used to interact with the virtualspace and/or online game taking place within the virtual space. Forexample, a user may switch from using a laptop device to using a mobiledevice to interact with the virtual space. The device informationcomponent 132 may detect the change and accordingly associate the newdevice information with the user.

As an illustrative example, FIG. 3 shows a data structure 300 configuredto store device information, according to an aspect of the invention.The data representations of data structure 300 and other data structuresillustrated herein are for illustrative purposes only. The datastructures may take different forms and may store some or all of theillustrated data values (as well as others not illustrated). Datastructure 300 may be stored in electronic storage (e.g., electronicstorage 122 illustrated in FIG. 1).

As illustrated, data structure 300 may store device information forvarious devices that may be used to interact with the virtual space. Forexample, data structure 300 may store various devices and theircorresponding characteristics, which may indicate device capabilities.For example, a device table 310 may store an identifier (which may beauto-incremented, not an actual identifier such as a MAC address), aclass of device, a type of device, and/or other information. Each devicemay have characteristics that are stored in characteristics tables 320(illustrated in FIG. 3 as characteristics 320A, 320B, 320C, . . . ,320N). For example, the device indicated by identifier 1 may be a laptoprunning the WINDOWS operating system and have characteristics indicatingthat the device runs an operating system that is version 8, has adisplay resolution of 2560×1440, has 8 GB of RAM, and/or has othercharacteristics.

Data structure 300 may therefore be used to store a listing of devicesand corresponding device information so that device characteristics andcapabilities may be known by the system.

Returning to FIG. 1, the in-game capabilities component 134 may beconfigured to determine in-game capabilities based on the deviceinformation. In-game capabilities may include, for example, a user rolethat the user may play associated with one or more in-game actions(e.g., a front-line battle role to participate in combat, a healer roleto heal users, a support role, etc.), in-game content that is availablefor use in the virtual space, a game level or scene available in thevirtual space, and/or other capabilities related to the virtual spacethat may be made available to the user based on the device information.

The in-game capabilities component 134 may determine custom in-gamecapabilities for the user by comparing device requirements of in-gamecapabilities with abilities of a given client computing platform basedon corresponding device information and/or consulting pre-stored in-gamecapabilities that are available for the given client computing platform150.

In some embodiments, for example, the in-game capabilities component 134may determine custom in-game capabilities for the user based on one ormore client computing platform requirements for one or more in-gamecapabilities. Different in-game capabilities may be associated withdifferent client computing platform requirements. For example, a givenin-game capability may involve initiating a processor-intensive gameevent such as a virtual battle that requires (or otherwise would beoptimal with) a particular processing ability, relate to providing richvisual displays that require (or otherwise would be optimal with) aparticular screen resolution, and/or relate to requiring (or otherwisewould be optimal with) other abilities of the client computing device150 in order to appropriately render or process the game event.

The in-game capabilities component 134 may use the device information(obtained by the device information component 132) for a given clientcomputing platform being used by a user to interact with the virtualspace and compare the device information with the requirements in orderto identify in-game capabilities for which the given client computingplatform 150 satisfies the device requirements. For example, if a givenin-game capability requires or would be more optimal with a minimumprocessor speed, then in-game capabilities component 134 may determinethat the user of a client computing platform 150 that meets or exceedsthat minimum processor speed qualifies for the given in-game capability.The in-game capabilities component 134 may perform this analysis foreach of the in-game capabilities. In some embodiments, the in-gamecapabilities component 134 may perform this analysis on more than onedevice requirement. For example, the given in-game capability mayrequire or be more optimal with both a minimum processor speed and aminimum screen resolution.

In some embodiments, the in-game capabilities component 134 maydetermine custom in-game capabilities for the user based on anassociation of a given client computing platform with correspondingin-game capabilities that are available for the device. For example,in-game capabilities component 134 may identify a given client computingplatform 150 used to interact with the virtual space and obtain in-gamecapabilities that are available for the device.

Whichever method of determining in-game capabilities is used, thein-game capabilities component 134 may determine the in-gamecapabilities in real-time or near real-time such that changes in theclient computing platform 150 used by a user to interact with thevirtual space may be accounted for such that in-game capabilitiesavailable to the user may be updated depending on the client computingplatform the user is currently using. For example, when the userswitches from a console device to a mobile device to interact with thevirtual space, in-game capabilities component 134 may switch the customin-game capabilities that are made available to the user.

As an illustrative example, FIG. 4 depicts a data structure 400configured to store in-game capabilities with corresponding devicerequirements, according to an aspect of the invention. Data structure400 may include a table 410 that stores an identifier (which may beautomatically incremented) and an in-game capability. Each in-gamecapability may be associated with a corresponding device requirementstored in various device requirement tables (illustrated in FIG. 4 astables 420A, 420B, 420C, 420N, 430A, 430B, 430C, 430N).

Different in-game capabilities may be associated with different devicerequirements. As illustrated, for example, a front line battle role mayrequire a certain resolution, RAM, network connection speed, and/orother requirements that are different than the requirements of a healerrole. The healer role may require less intensiveprocessing/display/network bandwidth resources than the front linebattle role. By storing one or more requirements of a given in-gamecapability, the data structure 400 (and logic/rules that use theinformation stored in the data structure) may be used by the system tocompare device information (e.g., obtained from the user, the userdevice, and/or data structure 300) with the requirements the givenin-game capability in order to determine whether the in-game capabilityis appropriate for the user of the device associated with the deviceinformation.

The data structure 400 may be used to impose minimum or otherrequirements for a given in-game capability, allowing for easy additionand assignment of requirements for in-game capabilities.

FIG. 5 depicts a data structure 500 configured to store classes ofdevices and corresponding in-game capabilities, according to an aspectof the invention. Data structure 400 may include a table 510 that storesan identifier (which may be automatically incremented) and a deviceclass (and/or other device information). A given device class may beassociated with one or more in-game capabilities, stored in record 520(illustrated in FIG. 5 as record 520A, 520N, 530A, 530B, 530N). Datastructure 500 may be used to store associations between a given device(or class of device) and one or more in-game capabilities. For example,a laptop device may be associated with a front-line battle rolecapability, a healer role capability, and/or other capability while amobile device may be associated with less (and/or different degrees of)in-game capabilities. The data structure 500 may therefore be used tostore associations of permissible in-game capabilities for givendevices. As such, the data structure 500 (and logic/rules that use theinformation stored in the data structure) may allow for easy associationbetween devices and permissible in-game capabilities without having tospecify device requirements for the in-game capabilities.

As would be appreciated, a combination of the data structures 400 and500 may be used to determine in-game capabilities based on the deviceinformation. To the extent that a given device is not represented inthese or other data structures, default in-game capabilities may beprovided by the system. Such default in-game capabilities may includenone, all, or a subset of all possible in-game capabilities.

Returning to FIG. 1, the capabilities assignment component 136 may beconfigured to assign a given in-game capability to the user from amongin-game capabilities that are available for the user, such as thecapabilities determined by the in-game capabilities component 134. Insome embodiments, the capabilities assignment component 136 may assignan in-game capability to the user based on previous gameplay,indications by the user, manual assignments from one user (e.g., a teamleader of a team of players, such as a formed multi-user party ofplayers), determinations made by the in-game capabilities component 134,and/or other factors by which assignments of in-game capabilities may bemade.

Previous gameplay may indicate a given user's propensity or desire tohave or otherwise use a given in-game capability. For example, the givenuser may prefer to play as a front-line battler rather than a supportrole. Thus, whenever the user accesses the virtual space using a clientcomputing platform for which the front-line battler role capability isavailable, the capabilities assignment component 136 may assign thatrole to the user. Likewise, indications by the user such as a profilesetting, option setting, or other indication from the user thatindicates a preference for particular in-game capabilities may be usedto assign in-game capabilities to the user.

In some embodiments, the capabilities assignment component 136 mayassign a given in-game capability for the user based on input fromanother user such as a leader of a team or party (e.g., explicit orimplicit group of players playing together in common or otherwisecoordinated with one another). The team (or party) leader may thusassign a given in-game capability to the user based on a role or othercapability that the team leader would like the user to fill. In someembodiments, only available in-game capabilities for a given user may bepresented for selection to the other user (e.g., the team leader). Insome embodiments, all in-game capabilities may be presented forselection by the other user and post-selection verification may beperformed to ensure that the given user is not assigned with an in-gamecapability that is not available for the given user (e.g., the teamleader may not be allowed to assign a front line battler role to a userwho is using a device that does not support or otherwise is not meet therequirements of that role).

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a data flow diagram 200 ofproviding device information and in-game capabilities to users 202 basedon device information related to a client computing platform 150 used toaccess the virtual space of a game, according to an aspect of theinvention. A given user 202 (illustrated in FIG. 2 as user 202A, 202B, .. . , 202N) may access the virtual space using a corresponding clientcomputing platform 150 (illustrated in FIG. 2 as client computingplatforms 150A, 1506, . . . , 150N). Client computing platform 150 mayindividually provide device information to server 120. The deviceinformation may be provided as a device indicator that identifies orotherwise indicates the client computing platform 150 (e.g., identifiesthe class, type, and/or other characteristic of the device), headerinformation in data packets, and/or other information that identifiesthe client computing platform 150. Server 120 may obtain the deviceinformation. Device indicators may include a visual indicator, anaudible indicator, and/or a tactile indicator. For example, a visualindicator may be a graphical representation of device information (e.g.,a depiction of a laptop), a qualitative description of the deviceinformation (e.g., a written description of the laptop specifications),and/or other considerations.

In some embodiments, user 202 and/or client computing platform 150 mayprovide an indication of a class of client computing platform 150 usedto interact with the virtual space. For example, user 202 may provideinformation that specifies the class during a logon procedure. In theseembodiments, server 120 may receive the class and lookup particular,more specific information, related to the class based on the userprofile. For example, the user profile may include information thatidentifies more than one client computing platform 150 used by the userto interact with the virtual space.

Server 120 may determine detailed device information based on the classinformation provided during the logon and lookup particular deviceinformation for the class of device in the user profile. For example,the user profile may include an indication that the user uses a laptophaving a particular processor and display resolution, a mobile devicehaving a particular operating system, and a particular console device.Upon logon, the user may indicate that the user is using a “laptop,”which may then be used to lookup in the user profile more detailedinformation for the laptop device.

Upon obtaining the device information, server 120 may determine one ormore corresponding in-game capabilities (illustrated in FIG. 2 as G.C.(A, B, N) for the user based on the device information. Server 120 mayprovide the in-game capabilities to each respective user 202 in relationto the virtual space.

In some embodiments, server 120 may provide the device information of agiven user 202 to other users 202. For example, server 120 may provideuser 202A with device information (B) related to user 202B and deviceinformation (N) related to user 202N. Similarly, server 120 may provideuser 202B with device information (A) related to user 202A and deviceinformation (N) related to user 202N. Likewise, server 120 may provideuser 202N with device information (A) related to user 202A and deviceinformation (B) related to user 202B. Server 120 may provide some or allof the device information of which it is aware to various users 202.

Returning to FIG. 1, the user class component 138 may be configured todetermine user classes. A user class may include one or more users thatuse similar or identical devices to interact with the virtual space. Assuch, a given user class may include users that have at least somein-game capabilities in common that are available to each user. Suchuser classes may include, for illustrative purposes only, “consoleusers,” “laptop users,” “mobile device users,” and/or other classes ofusers, which may be defined by the device information of a device usedby users of the user class to interact with the virtual space. Userclasses may help to facilitate assignment of in-game capabilities toother users (e.g., who may be a member of a party of users), inviteusers to form a team and/or party, or otherwise classify users based onthe device they use to interact with the virtual space.

The party formation component 140 may be configured to effectuatepresentation of request interfaces configured to receive entry and/orselection from users to form multi-user parties and/or teams. Herein theterm ‘request interface’ may generally refer to any interface presentedto one or more users of the virtual space which may facilitate thefeatures and functionality of forming multi-user parties as describedherein. For example, described in more detail later herein, a requestinterface may be an instance of an interface which a user may bepresented within the virtual space when the user wants to formmulti-user parties (e.g., a pop-up window used to initiate a partyformation request for sending to one or more other users), an instanceof an interface which a user may be presented when other users (or otherformed parties) are attempting to form multi-user parties with them(e.g., an interface configured to allow a user to confirm or deny aparty formation request sent to them by another user or party),modifications to existing interfaces to include the features andfunctionality of party formation requests as described herein (e.g., anexisting interface modified to facilitate party formation request),and/or other considerations of a request interface suitable for theintended purposes described herein.

In some embodiments, a request interface may include, for viewing byusers who may be initiating and/or receiving a party formation request,device information indicative of the features and functions of thedifferent client computing platforms used by the users of the virtualspace. For example, a user who is initiating a party formation requestmay be presented a request interface including device information forall users of the virtual space, a particular group of users of thevirtual space, and/or a select user and/or group of users of the virtualspace. Briefly, the inclusion of device information of users of thevirtual space in the request interface may facilitate enhanced partyformation decision making between users. For example, users mayselectively initiate and/or respond to party formation requests based onthe particular client computing platform type, class, correspondingin-game capabilities, access to in-game content, preferred roles, and/orother feature and/or functionality attributed to the users of which theymay potentially form a multi-user party with.

In some embodiments, request interfaces may include device indicatorsrelated to the device information of the users of the virtual space, inorder to make such information easily accessible to the user viewing therequest interface. Such device indicators may include a visualindicator, an audible indicator, a tactile indicator, and/or otherindicator that identifies or otherwise indicates device information forthe client computing platform used by the users in the virtual space.

In the following descriptions, for illustrative purposes only, therecitation of a “first request interface” herein may refer to aninstance of a request interface presented to a user which may beconfigured to receive entry and/or selection by the user to initiate arequest to form one or more multi-user parties with other users of thevirtual space. The recitation of a “second request interface” may hereinrefer to an instance of a request interface presented to a user who hasreceived or is receiving a request to form a party sent to them from oneor more other users. The second request interface may be configured toreceive entry and/or selection by the receiving user to confirm or denythe request.

For example, the first request interface may be configured to receiveentry and/or selection from the first user to form a first multi-userparty with the second user and/or other users. The first requestinterface may include, for viewing by the first user, the second set ofinformation related to the second client computing platform used by thesecond user. The second request interface may be configured to receiveentry and/or selection by the second user to confirm (or deny) therequest to form the first multi-user party (e.g., initiated by the firstuser). The second interface may include, for viewing by the second user,the first set of information related to the first client computingplatform used by the first user. In some embodiments, the second requestinterface may be presented to the second user (and/or other users) inresponse to the first user initiating the request to from the firstmulti-user party via the first request interface.

The formation of multi-user parties may be considered in a variety ofways. In some embodiments, forming the first multi-user party mayinclude creating a new party in which the first user, second user,and/or other users are associated as members. Initiation of the requestto form the first multi-user party (e.g., new party) via the firstrequest interface by the first user may include entry and/or selectionby the first user in which the second user is selected or “invited” tojoin a new party which is to be the first multi-user party (e.g., uponconfirmation by the second user).

In some embodiments, forming the first multi-user party may include thefirst user selecting and/or “inviting” the second user to join anexisting party which the first user is a member. Upon confirmation bythe second user, the existing party may become the first multi-userparty in which the first user and second user (and/or other users) areassociated with.

In some embodiments, formation of the first multi-user party may includethe first user requesting to join an existing party of which the seconduser is a member. Upon confirmation by the second user, the existingparty may become the first multi-user party of which the first user,second user, and/or other users are associated with.

Confirmation by the second user to form the first multi-user party inaccordance with any of the formation methods described above may beaccomplished by entry and/or selection by the second user of“Accepting”, selecting a “Yes” option, and/or otherwise confirming therequest via the second request interface. Responsive to requestconfirmation by the second user, the party formation component 140 maybe configured to process the request to form the first multi-user partyincluding the first user and the second user (and/or other users) byassociating the first user and the second user (and/or other users) withthe first multi-user party directly or indirectly. A direct associationmay refer to the first user directly identifying the second user whensending the first multi-user party request. Indirect association mayrefer to the first user identifying a party of which the second user isa member when sending the first multi-user party request (e.g., thefirst user and second user will be associated by virtue of second userbeing a member of the party).

Device information may be included in the instances of the requestinterfaces and/or other interface(s) such that the users of the virtualspace may be made aware of the device information of the other userswhen making decision to form multi-user parties. In order for the deviceinformation to be included in the instances of the request interfaces,the party formation component 140 may be configured to receive aprovisioning request to provide the device information of users to otherusers of the virtual space. In some embodiments, the provisioningrequest to provide device information (e.g., to be included in a requestinterface) may include requesting device information associated withusers specifically identified by a user inputting the provisioningrequest. In some embodiments, a provisioning request may be initiated byentry and/or selection by a user in an instance of a request interfaceand/or other interface(s) wherein the specific users are identified.

In some embodiments, the provisioning request to provide deviceinformation (e.g., to be included in a request interface) may refer torequesting device information associated with users who are part of alarger set of users not specifically identified by the user inputtingthe provisioning request (e.g., users of a particular class clientcomputing platform).

In some embodiments, the provisioning request may be a request which ismade automatically such that a user does not have to explicitly initiatethe provisioning request for device information (e.g., the provisioningrequest may be initiated automatically when an instance of a requestinterface is presented to one or more users).

For example, the party formation component 140 may be configured toreceive a provisioning request to provide device information includingthe second set of information to the first user, such that the firstuser may be made aware of the device information associated with thesecond client computing platform used by the second user. Theprovisioning request may be initiated by virtue of the first userspecifically identifying the second user. The provisioning request maybe initiated by other mechanisms or techniques. Responsive to theprovisioning request, the party formation component 140 may beconfigured to provide the device information including the second set ofinformation to the first user. In some embodiments, the deviceinformation including the second set of information may be provided tothe first user in the first request interface, and/or otherinterface(s).

Presented below are illustrative examples of various embodiments of thefirst request interface and the second request interface used to formthe first multi-user party between the first user, the second user,and/or other users of the virtual space. It is to be noted that thefollowing descriptions are not intended to be limiting, and may beattributed with more or less functionality as described withoutdeparting from the scope and intent of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the second request interface 1000related to the first multi-user party formation request between thefirst user and the second user. The second request interface 1000 may bepresented to the second user in response to the first user requesting(e.g., via the first request interface) to join a party of which thesecond user is a member of (e.g., to thereafter form the firstmulti-user party).

The second request interface 1000 may include, for viewing by the seconduser, device information 1005, 1010 indicative of the features andfunctions of the first client computing platform used by the first user.The second request interface 1000 may include the device information1005, 1010 by virtue of a provisioning request initiated and processedby the party formation component 140 to include the device informationin the second request interface 1000, as described herein.

Device information 1005, 1010 may include the first set of informationrelated to the first client computing platform used by the first user.In particular, the second request interface 1000 may include deviceinformation 1010, such as a device indicator of the client computingplatform class used by the first user (e.g., showing a graphic depictionof a laptop class client computing platform). The second user may eitherconfirm or deny the request based on the device class used by the firstuser and/or other device information included in the first set ofinformation shown in the second request interface 1000.

In some embodiments, the second request interface 1000 may include anoption to view more device information 1005 through an additionalinterface (e.g., pop up window) and/or as part of the second requestinterface 1000 (e.g., drop down menus appear and/or the second requestinterface 1000 expands). In particular, FIG. 11 illustrates an interface1100 used to display more device information when the selection to viewmore device information is made by the second user at the second requestinterface 1000 (FIG. 10). The interface 1100 may depict device usageinformation 1110, 1130 of the first user (e.g., activity metricsassociated with each of the client computing platforms used by the firstuser), according to an aspect of the invention. The interface 1110 mayinclude device usage overview information 1110, detailed device usageinformation 1130, and/or other information.

The overview information 1110 may include device indicators (e.g.,visual indicators) showing some or all of the available client computingplatforms classes used by the first user within the virtual space (e.g.,currently depicting a laptop 1120A, mobile device 11208, and gamingconsole 1120C). The overview information 1110 may additionally indicatethe percentage of usage of the different client computing platforms bythe first user within the virtual space (e.g., as determined by theactivity metrics associated with the client computing platforms and/ordetermined by other techniques). The interface 1100 may provide optionsto view usage percentages based on overall usage time, number of gamingsessions, and/or other parameter for indicating usage of the differentclass client computing platforms by the first user.

The detailed device usage information 1130 may include additionaldetails about client computing platform usage by the first user.Detailed information may include information about gaming sessions thefirst user participated in (e.g., start time, end time, duration, etc.),the client computing platform the first user used during each of thesessions, whether or not the first user switch client computingplatforms during the game sessions, and/or other information and/oractivity metrics associated with the client computing platforms. Thisinformation may be used by the second user when making a decision ofwhether or not to accept the first user into their party to form thefirst multi-user party (e.g., via selecting “Yes” at the requestinterface 1000 in FIG. 10).

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the second request interface1200 used to display device information related to a party (Party ABC)who is making a party formation request with the second user (e.g.,wherein if the second user joins Party ABC the first multi-user partywill be formed), according to an aspect of the invention. In someembodiments, the first user may be a member of the party (Party ABC). Insome embodiments, the first user may be the member of Part ABC who isrequesting the second user to join.

Device information related to Party ABC may include informationindicative of the features and functions of the different clientcomputing platforms used by the members of the Party ABC. Currentlyshown, the second request interface 1200 may include one or more deviceindicators depicting the various client computing platform classes usedby the members of the Party ABC, and showing the number of memberscurrently using the different client computing platforms. As anillustrative example, the second request interface 1200 currently showstwo members using laptops 1210A, four members using smartphones 1210B,and seven members using gaming consoles 1210C. The second user mayeither confirm or deny the request based on this information.

In some embodiments, the second request interface 1200 may include anoption to view more device information through an additional interface(e.g., pop up window) and/or as part of the second request interface1200 (e.g., drop down menus appear and/or the second request interface1200 expands). In particular, FIG. 13 illustrates an interface 1300 usedto display more device information relating to users belonging to PartyABC when the selection to view more device information is made,according to an aspect of the invention. Interface 1300 may depictdevice usage information 1310, 1330 relating to the members of PartyABC. The interface 1300 may include device usage overview information1310, detailed device usage information 1330, and/or other information.

Overview information 1110 may include device indicators showing all ofthe available classes (or other device information) of the clientcomputing platforms used by the members of Party ABC (e.g., currentlydepicting a laptop 1320A, smartphone 1320B, and gaming console 1320C).The overview information 1110 may additionally indicate the percentageof usage of the different client computing platforms by members of theparty. The overview information 1110 may include other information. Theinterface 1100 may provide options to view usage percentages based onoverall usage time by the members, number of gaming sessions, and/orother parameter for indicating usage of the different client computingplatforms by the members.

The detailed device usage information 1330 may include additionaldetails about client computing platform usage (e.g., activity metrics)by the members of Party ABC. Detailed information may includeinformation about gaming sessions the members and/or the party as awhole participated in (e.g., start time, end time, duration, etc.), theclient computing platforms the members used during the sessions, whetheror not the members individually changed client computing platformsduring the game sessions, and/or other information and/or activitymetrics as described herein. This information may be used by the seconduser when making a decision of whether or not to accept the partyformation request with Party ABC (and consequently the formation of thefirst multi-user party).

Referring now to FIGS. 14-16, various examples of the first requestinterface and/or other interface(s) configured to receive entry and/orselection from the first user to initiate the first multi-user partyformation request to be sent to the second user and/or other users areprovided.

In some embodiments, recommendations to initiate party formationrequests to form parties may be presented to the first user and/or otherusers of the virtual space. For example, recommendations may be sent tothe first user which recommends initiating party formation requests withother users who are associated with a particular class of clientcomputing platform, a particular in-game ability, and/or otherassociated feature. As an illustrative example, FIG. 14 illustrates aninterface 1400 used to recommend that a user, such as the first user,initiates a party formation request with other users of a particularclass of client computing platform. In particular, the interface 1400may be presented to the first user including a recommendation to formthe first multi-user party with other users who are associated with aparticular class of client computing platform (e.g., mobile device,gaming console, or other). The other users may include the second user.

Recommendations may be made based on the first user benefiting fromforming the first multi-user party with the users of a particular classclient computing platform (such as the second user). A benefit mayinclude, for example, the users of a particular class client computingplatform may be associated with one or more in-game capabilities, roles,and/or other associated features which the first user may not otherwisebe associated with or available. Once the first user initiates therequest (e.g., selects one or more users to invite to form a party) aninstance of a request interface, such as those previously describedembodiments of the second request interface, may be presented to therecipient users to confirm or deny the request.

In some embodiments, recommendations may be made by virtue of the partyformation component 140 identifying the benefits a user and/or partywould obtain by forming a party with another user and/or party who isassociated with a particular client computing platform. For example, theparty formation component 140 may be configured to identify a particularclass of client computing platform in which the first multi-user partywould benefit by having one of its members interact with the instance ofthe virtual space using the particular class of client computingplatform. The interactions monitored by the interaction component 128(e.g., FIG. 1) may determine that the first user (and/or party the firstuser is a member of) is limited in one or more activities performedwithin the virtual space. The first user may be limited for example, inthe accessibility of in-game content by virtue of the first clientcomputing platform and/or other client computing platforms used by thefirst user. The party formation component 140 may be configured toidentify a particular class of client computing platform which made helpthe first user to perform and/or complete the one or more activates inthe virtual space based on the monitoring.

The party formation component 140 may be configured to determine one ormore users who use the identified client computing platform to interactwith the instance of the virtual space based on device informationobtained by the device information component 132. Thereafter, the partyformation component 140 may be configured to provide an indication thata party would benefit from having the determined user(s) as members ofthe party.

For example, the party formation component 140 may be configured todetermine that the second user uses the particular class of clientcomputing platform which would benefit the first multi-user party, basedon the second set of device information (obtained by device informationcomponent 132). The party formation component 140 may provide anindication, for example to the first user in the first requestinterface, that the first multi-user party would benefit from having thesecond user as a member of the first multi-user party. An indication tothe first user may include the second user being identified on the firstrequest interface and/or other interface(s) (e.g., first requestinterface 1500 shown in FIG. 15).

The request to form the first multi-user party may be processed afterthe indication is provided (e.g., the first user obtains the indication,selects to invite the second user, and the second user confirms therequest).

In some embodiments, users may be which to search for users who use aparticular client computing platform. The party formation component 140may be configured to process a query that requests to obtain informationrelated to users of the virtual space that use a particular class ofclient computing platform, particular in-game capabilities, and/or otherassociated attribute. The information which may be obtained as a resultof the query may include identification of the users (e.g., a user name,avatar name, etc.) that use the particular class of client computingplatform. In some embodiments, the query may be a query input by a userwishing to obtain such information (e.g. the first user specificallyidentifies a particular class of client computing platforms of query toidentify users of the particular class client computing platform).

The party formation component 140 may be configured to identify,directly or indirectly responsive to the query, one or more users of thevirtual space that use the particular class of client computingplatform. For example, if the second user uses a particular class ofclient computing platform, and the first user inputs a query requestingto obtain information relating to users that use the particular class ofclient computing platform, the second user may be identified by theparty formation component 140 as using the particular class of clientcomputing platform queried by the first user.

The party formation component 140 may be configured to provide theidentified second user to the first user (e.g., in the first requestinterface and/or other interface(s)). In some embodiments, the requestto form the first multi-user party may be processed by the partyformation component 140 after the identification is provided to thefirst user (e.g., after the first users selects to invite the seconduser and the second user confirms the request).

Although interface 1400 is currently shown as a standalone interface forproviding a recommendation of party formation, in some embodiments, sucha recommendation may be provided in the same or similar interface as thefirst request interface configured to receive entry and/or selectionfrom the first user facilitating initiation of a party formationrequest. For example, if the first user selects “Yes” on therecommendation interface 1400, the first user may be presented the firstrequest interface as a separate interface (e.g., a pop up window), orthe first request interface may be part of the recommendation interface1400 (e.g., drop down menus appear and/or the interface 1400 expands).

In particular, FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of the first requestinterface 1500 including device information, sets of device information,and/or other information related to particular client computingplatforms used by users in the virtual space to facilitate enhancedparty formation for users initiating party formation request. In someembodiments, first request interface 1500 may be presented to the firstuser responsive to the recommendation presented at interface 1400 inFIG. 14 (e.g., the first user selects ‘Yes’) as described herein. Insome embodiments, first request interface 1500 may be presented to thefirst user responsive to the first user inputting a query to identifyusers of a particular class of client computing platform as describedherein.

The first request interface 1500 may include, for viewing by the firstuser, device information 1510, 1530 indicative of the features andfunctions of the client computing platforms used by the users in thevirtual space. In particular, device information 1530 may include thesecond set of information related to the second client computingplatform used by the second user (e.g., the class of the second clientcomputing platform, activity metrics associated with the second clientcomputing platform, and/or other information included in the second setof information). The first request interface 1500 may be configured toreceive entry and/or selection by the first user to change theparticular class of client computing platform to obtain a list of userswho use that particular class of client computing platform. For example,the first user may select a “Change Class” filter option to obtain alist of users who use a different class of client computing platform.When a different class is selected, the party formation component 140component may be configured to process a query that requests to obtaininformation related to users of the virtual space that use the newlyselected particular class of client computing platform, as describedherein.

The first request interface 1500 may include device information 1510including an overview of the classes of client computing platforms usedby all of the users of the virtual space, and/or a particular group ofusers of the virtual space (currently shown as laptop 1520A, smartphone15208, gaming console 1520C, desktop computer 1520D, and other 1520N).Device information 1510 may indicate the percentage of usage of thedifferent client computing platforms by the users of the virtual space.The first user may be able to change which group of users (e.g., userclass) are searched when the query to search users of a particularclient computing platform is processed (e.g., All players, contactsonly, and/or other user group classification).

FIG. 16 illustrates other embodiments of the first request interface1604, 1604 being part of an existing interface 1600. For example, theexisting interface 1600 may be an interface depicting userrepresentations in the instance of the virtual space. The interface 1600may be an interface depicting a virtual location 1602 within the virtualspace (e.g., virtual café or other virtual location) wherein userrepresentations associated with the user of the virtual space (e.g.,avatars) may congregate and/or interact, according to an aspect of theinvention. As currently shown, the interface 1600 may be modified toinclude one or more embodiments of the first request interface 1604,1606 configured to receive entry and/or selection from the first user toform the first multi-user party with the second user and/or other users.

First request interface 1604 may be an interface associated with a userrepresentation 1601 associated with the second user. For example, firstrequest interface 1604 may be a menu, window, and/or other interfacewhich follows and/or trails the user representation 1601 throughout thevirtual location 1602. The first request interface 1604 may include, forviewing by the first user, the second set of information related to thesecond client computing platform used by the second user. The second setof information included in the first request interface 1604 may includedevice indicators of the different class client computing platforms usedby the second user (e.g., laptop 1620A, smartphone 1620B, and gamingconsole 1620C). The device indicator which the second user is currentlyusing may be highlighted (e.g., the laptop 1620A). The first requestinterface 1604 may be configured to receive entry and/or selection fromthe first user to form the first multi-user party with the second user(e.g., select “Invite User”). The first request interface 1604 mayinclude an option to view more device information relating to the clientcomputing platforms used by the second user. For example by selecting“More Info”, the first user may be presented an instance of an interfacethe same as or similar to interface 1100 shown in FIG. 11, howeverincluding information relating to the client computing platforms used bythe second user (e.g., the second set of information relating to thesecond client computing platform used by the second user) and not thefirst user as shown in the interface 1100 in FIG. 11. The instance ofthe interface including the more device information may be an interfaceseparate from the first request interface 1604 (e.g., a pop up window),and/or part of the first request interface 1604 (e.g., the first requestinterface 1604 expands and/or drop down menus appear).

First request interface 1606 may be an interface associated with amulti-user party representation 1603 associated with a multi-user partyincluding multiple users of the virtual space. In some embodiments, themultiple users may include the second user. The first request interface1606 may be a menu which follows and/or trails the multi-user partyrepresentation 1603 throughout the virtual location 1602. The firstrequest interface 1606 may include, for viewing by the first user,device information indicative of the features and functions of theclient computing platform used by the members of the party (e.g., laptop1630A, smartphone 1630B, and gaming console 1630C). The first requestinterface 1606 may be configured to receive entry and/or selection fromthe first user to form the first multi-user party with the party (e.g.,select “Request to Join”).

The first request interface 1606 may include an option to view moredevice information relating to the client computing platforms used bythe users of the party. For example by selecting “More Info”, the firstuser may be presented an instance of an interface the same as or similarto interface 1300 shown in FIG. 13, however including informationrelating to the client computing platforms used by the users associatedwith the multi-user party representation 1603 (e.g., and not Party ABC).For example, the instance of the interface including the more deviceinformation may include the second set of information related to thesecond client computing platform used by the second user. The instanceof the interface including the more device information may be aninterface separate from the first request interface 1606 (e.g., a pop upwindow), and/or part of the first request interface 1606 (e.g., thefirst request interface 1606 expands and/or drop down menus appear).

Returning to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, during and/or after formationprocessing the request to from the first multi-user party by the partyformation component 140, the capabilities assignment component 136 maybe configured to assign one or more in-game capabilities and/or one ormore access to in-game content to the first user and/or second user. Theassignments may be based on the first set of device information (for thefirst user) and/or the second set of device information (for the seconduser) such that the first multi-user party includes members that havethe one or more in-game capabilities and/or the one or more access toin-game content after the first user and/or second user is associatedwith the first multi-user party.

In some implementations, the server 120, client computing platforms 150,and/or external resources 160 may be operatively linked via one or moreelectronic communication links. For example, such electroniccommunication links may be established, at least in part, via a networksuch as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated thatthis is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of thisdisclosure includes implementations in which servers 120, clientcomputing platforms 150, and/or external resources 160 may beoperatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform 150 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program components. The computer programcomponents may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 150 to interface with system 100and/or external resources 160, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platforms 150. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 150 mayinclude one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

The external resources 160 may include sources of information, hostsand/or providers of virtual environments outside of system 100, externalentities participating with system 100, and/or other resources. In someimplementations, some or all of the functionality attributed herein toexternal resources 160 may be provided by resources included in system100.

The server 120 may include electronic storage 122, one or moreprocessors 121, and/or other components. The server 120 may includecommunication lines, or ports to enable the exchange of information witha network and/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 120in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting. The server 120 may include aplurality of hardware, software, and/or firmware components operatingtogether to provide the functionality attributed herein to server 120.For example, server 120 may be implemented by a cloud of computingplatforms operating together as server 120.

Electronic storage 122 may comprise electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 122 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server 120and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server 120via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.) or adrive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 122 may include oneor more of optically readable storage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.),magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic harddrive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-based storage media (e.g.,EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.),and/or other electronically readable storage media. The electronicstorage 122 may include one or more virtual storage resources (e.g.,cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or other virtual storageresources). Electronic storage 122 may store software algorithms,information determined by processor 121, information received fromserver 120, information received from client computing platforms 150,and/or other information that enables server 120 to function asdescribed herein.

Processor(s) 121 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server 120. As such, processor 121 may include one ormore of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor 121 is shown in FIG. 1 as asingle entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor 121 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor 121 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. The processor 121 may beconfigured to execute components 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138,and 140. Processor 121 may be configured to execute components 124, 126,128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 by software; hardware; firmware;some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 121.

It should be appreciated that although components 124, 126, 128, 130,132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as beingco-located within a single processing unit, in implementations in whichprocessor 121 includes multiple processing units, one or more ofcomponents 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 may belocated remotely from the other components. The description of thefunctionality provided by the different components 124, 126, 128, 130,132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 described below is for illustrativepurposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components 124,126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 may provide more or lessfunctionality than is described. For example, one or more of components124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140 may be eliminated, andsome or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones ofcomponents 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, and 140. As anotherexample, processor 121 may be configured to execute one or moreadditional components that may perform some or all of the functionalityattributed below to one of components 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136,138, and 140.

Although an in-game capability is described herein as having its ownrequirements or being associated with particular devices, two or morein-game capabilities may together have requirements such that if therequirements are not satisfied then neither of the two or more in-gamecapabilities will be made available for the user.

Furthermore, the predefined associations between devices and in-gamecapabilities may be arbitrary such that they may be configured by thedeveloper and/or by the users (e.g., players). Additionally, in someembodiments, one or more device requirements may be a matter of scalesuch that if a given requirement is not satisfied, some level of in-gamecapability may be provided for the user based on a level ofsatisfaction. For example, if a given requirement has been 80%satisfied, then a fraction (e.g., 80 or other fraction) of the in-gamecapability may be provided for the user. Such scaled in-game capabilitymay be relevant to in-game capabilities such as content items (e.g.,where the in-game capability relates to a number of content items),roles (e.g., scaled back time in which a role may be played by the userbased on the scaled requirement satisfaction), and/or other scaledin-game capability.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a method 600 of determining in-gamecapabilities based on a device used to access the virtual space of agame, according to an aspect of the invention. The operations of method600 and other methods described herein presented below are intended tobe illustrative. In some embodiments, method 600 and other methodsdescribed herein may be accomplished with one or more additionaloperations not described, and/or without one or more of the operationsdiscussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 600and other methods described herein is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, method 600 and other methods described herein maybe implemented in one or more processing devices (e.g., a digitalprocessor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to processinformation, an analog circuit designed to process information, a statemachine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processinginformation). The one or more processing devices may include one or moredevices executing some or all of the operations of method 600 and othermethods described herein in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 600 and othermethods described herein.

In an operation 602, an instance of a virtual space may be executed. Inan operation 604, device information related to devices used to interactwith the virtual space may be obtained. The device information mayinclude first device information related to a device used by a firstuser to interact with the virtual space. The device information may beobtained from the users, the user devices, from predefined deviceinformation sources (e.g., the data structures described herein), and/orother sources of device information.

In an operation 606, customized in-game capabilities may be determinedbased on the device information, including a first customized in-gamecapability for the first user based on first device information. In anoperation 608, the first customized in-game capability may be providedfor use in the virtual space by the first user.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a method 700 for determining in-gamecapabilities based on predefined associations between different devicesand different in-game capabilities, according to an aspect of theinvention. In an operation 702, device information for a user device(e.g., a client computing platform 150 illustrated in FIG. 1) may beobtained. In an operation 704, a determination of whether the device isrecognized may be made. For example, predefined information (e.g., datastructure 300) may be consulted to determine whether the deviceinformation is known by method 700. If the device is not recognized,default in-game capabilities may be determined in an operation 706. Forexample, the default in-game capabilities may include none, some, or allof the in-game capabilities that are available.

On the other hand, if the device is recognized, a determination ofwhether the device is associated with one or more in-game capabilitiesmay be made in an operation 708. For example, data structure 500 may beconsulted to determine whether associations between any portion of thedevice information and one or more in-game capabilities are predefined.If the device is not associated with in-game capabilities, then defaultin-game capabilities may be determined in operation 706. If the deviceis associated with in-game capabilities, such in-game capabilities maybe determined in an operation 710. In an operation 712, the in-gamecapabilities may be provided to the user such that the capabilities areusable by the user in the virtual space.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a method 800 of providing in-gamecapabilities based on whether devices meet predefined requirements ofin-game capabilities, according to an aspect of the invention. In anoperation 802, device information may be obtained. In an operation 804,device capabilities may be determined based on the device information.For example, the device capabilities may be included with the deviceinformation and/or may be looked up using predefined information (e.g.,information stored in data structure 300).

In an operation 806, device requirements for in-game capabilities may beobtained. For example, the device requirements for a given in-gamecapability may be obtained from predefined information (e.g.,information stored in data structure 400). In an operation 808, thedevice capabilities may be compared with the device requirements for thegiven in-game capability.

In an operation 810, a determination of whether the device is compatiblewith each in-game capability may be made based on the comparison. A userdevice may be compatible with a given in-game capability when the userdevice capabilities meet or otherwise satisfy the device requirementsfor the given in-game capability.

If the user device is compatible with the given in-game capability, thein-game capability may be added or otherwise provided for the user ofthe user device in an operation 812 such that the given in-gamecapability is usable by the user in the virtual space. In an operation814, a determination of whether there exist more in-game capabilities topotentially provide may be made. If more in-game capabilities exist,method 800 may return to operation 808, where the next in-gamecapability may be processed. If no other in-game capabilities are to beprocessed, the in-game capabilities for which the user device iscompatible may be provided for the user such that the user is access thein-game capabilities when interacting with the virtual space.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method 900 of obtaining and providingdevice information to facilitate party formation decisions based on thedevice information, according to an aspect of the invention. At anoperation 902, an instance of a virtual space in which an online gametakes place may be executed. In some implementations, operation 902 maybe performed by a space component the same or similar as space component125 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 904, device information indicative of the features andfunctions of the different client computing platforms used by the usersto interact with the instance of the virtual space may be obtained. Thedevice information may include a first set of information indicative ofthe features and functions of a first client computing platform used bya first user of the virtual space, and a second set of informationindicative of the features and functions of a second client computingplatform used by a second user of the virtual space. In someimplementations, operation 904 may be performed by a device informationcomponent the same or similar as device information component 132 (shownin FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 906, presentation of request interfaces configured toreceive entry and/or selection from users for forming multi-user partiesmay be effectuated. The request interfaces may include, for viewing byusers of the virtual space, device information indicative of thefeatures and functions of the different client computing platforms usedby the users of the virtual space. The request interface may include afirst request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the first user to form a first multi-user party withother users, wherein the other users may include the second user. Thefirst request interface may include, for viewing by the first user, thesecond set of information related to the second client computingplatform used by the second user. The request interface may includesecond request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the second user to confirm the request to form the firstmulti-user party. The second interface may include, for viewing by thesecond user, the first set of information related to the first clientcomputing platform used by the first user. In some implementations,operation 906 may be performed by a party formation component the sameor similar as party formation component 140 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed herein).

At an operation 908, responsive to request confirmation by the seconduser, the request to form the first multi-user party including the firstuser and the second user may be processed. Processing may includeassociating the first user and the second user with the first multi-userparty directly or indirectly. In some implementations, operation 908 maybe performed by a party formation component the same or similar as partyformation component 140 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An online gaming system configured todisplay information related to client computing platforms used by usersof an online game to facilitate enhanced relationship formation, thesystem comprising: one or more physical computer processors configuredby machine-readable instructions to: execute an instance of a virtualspace in which the online game takes place, to facilitate presentationof the online game to the users on client computing platforms, and toinitiate cooperative gameplay by users in individual portions of theonline game; obtain device information indicative of the features andfunctions of different client computing platforms used by the users tointeract with the instance of the virtual space, wherein the deviceinformation includes a first set of information indicative of thefeatures and functions of a first client computing platform used by afirst user of the virtual space, and a second set of informationindicative of the features and functions of a second client computingplatform used by a second user of the virtual space; and effectuatepresentation of request interfaces configured to receive entry and/orselection of individual ones of the users that will be able to engage incollaborative gameplay together, wherein selection of the individualones of the users by a given user is received via the request interfacepresented to the given user such that, upon the selection, the givenuser and the one or more of the users selected will be able to engage incollaborative gameplay together, the request interfaces including deviceinformation indicative of the features and functions of the differentclient computing platforms used by the users of the virtual space thatare participating in the same game via the different client computingplatforms, such that a first request interface that is configured toreceive entry and/or selection from the first user of one or more of theusers that will be able to engage in collaborative gameplay with thefirst user, is presented to the first user via a client computingplatform associated with the first user, and wherein the first requestinterface includes, for viewing by the first user, the second set ofinformation related to the second client computing platform used by thesecond user.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processorsare further configured by machine-readable instructions to: present asecond request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the second user to confirm a request to engage incollaborative gameplay with the first user, the second interfaceincluding, for viewing by the second user, the first set of informationrelated to the first client computing platform used by the first user.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured by machine-readable instructions to: identify a particularclass of client computing platform via which users are able to perform afirst type of in-game action using the particular class of clientcomputing platform; determine that the second user uses the particularclass of client computing platform to interact with the instance of thevirtual space based on the second set of device information; and providean indication that the first user should select the second user toengage in the collaborative gameplay, and wherein a request to initiatecollaborative gameplay is processed after the indication is provided. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured by machine-readable instructions to: process a query thatrequests to obtain information related to users of the virtual spacethat use a particular class of client computing platform, wherein therequested information includes an identification of the users that usethe particular class of client computing platform; identify, directly orindirectly responsive to the query, one or more users of the virtualspace that use the particular class of client computing platform,wherein the second user is identified as using the particular class ofclient computing platform; and provide the identified second user to thefirst user, wherein the request to initiate collaborative gameplay isprocessed thereafter.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:receive a provisioning request to provide device information to one ormore users of the virtual space, including receiving a provisioningrequest to provide device information including the second set ofinformation to one or more users of the virtual space, such that the oneor more users are made aware of the device information of the seconduser; and provide the device information including the second set ofinformation to the one or more users, wherein the one or more usersincludes the first user.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one ormore processors are further configured by machine-readable instructionssuch that device information provided to the one or more users includesdevice information associated with users specifically identified by thefirst user or are part of a larger set of users not identified by thefirst user.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processorsare is configured by machine-readable instructions such that theinitiation of collaborative gameplay with the first user and the seconduser comprises addition of the first user to a relationship of which thesecond user is already a member.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein theone or more processors are configured by machine-readable instructionssuch that the initiation of collaborative gameplay with the first userand the second user comprises creation of a new relationship andaddition of the first user and the second user to the new relationshipthat was created.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured by machine-readable instructions toimplement user roles that are associated with an ability to perform anin-game action and/or associated with access to in-game content, andwherein different classes of client computing platforms are associatedwith different in-game actions and/or different access to in-gamecontent.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processorsare configured by machine-readable instructions to assign one or morein-game capabilities and/or one or more access to in-game content to thefirst user based on the first set of device information.
 11. The systemof claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured bymachine-readable instructions such that the request interface includes adevice indicator such as a visual indicator, an audible indicator,and/or a tactile indicator.
 12. A method of displaying informationrelated to client computing platforms used by users of an online game tofacilitate enhanced relationship formation, the method being implementedin a computer system including one or more physical processors andstorage media storing machine-readable instructions, the methodcomprising: executing, by the one or more physical processors, aninstance of a virtual space in which the online game takes place, andfacilitating presentation of the online game to the users on clientcomputing platforms, and to initiate cooperative gameplay by users inindividual portions of the online game; obtaining, by the one or morephysical processors, device information indicative of the features andfunctions of different client computing platforms used by the users tointeract with the instance of the virtual space, wherein the deviceinformation includes a first set of information indicative of thefeatures and functions of a first client computing platform used by afirst user of the virtual space, and a second set of informationindicative of the features and functions of a second client computingplatform used by a second user of the virtual space; and effectuating,by the one or more physical processors, presentation of requestinterfaces configured to receive entry and/or selection of individualones of the users that will be able to engage in collaborative gameplaytogether, wherein selection of the individual ones of the users by agiven user is received via the request interface presented to the givenuser such that, upon the selection, the given user and the one or moreof the users selected will be able to engage in collaborative gameplaytogether, the request interfaces including device information indicativeof the features and functions of the different client computingplatforms used by the users of the virtual space that are participatingin the same game via the different client computing platforms, such thata first request interface that is configured to receive entry and/orselection from the first user of one or more of the users that will beable to engage in collaborative gameplay with the first user, ispresented to the first user via a client computing platform associatedwith the first user, and wherein the first request interface includes,for viewing by the first user, the second set of information related tothe second client computing platform used by the second user.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: presenting, by the one or morephysical processors, a second request interface that is configured toreceive entry and/or selection from the second user to confirm a requestto engage in collaborative gameplay with the first user, the secondinterface including, for viewing by the second user, the first set ofinformation related to the first client computing platform used by thefirst user.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: identifying,by the one or more physical processors, a particular class of clientcomputing platform via which users are able to perform a first type ofin-game action using the particular class of client computing platform;determining, by the one or more physical processors, that the seconduser uses the particular class of client computing platform to interactwith the instance of the virtual space based on the second set of deviceinformation; and providing, by the one or more physical processors, anindication that the first user should select the second user to engagein the collaborative gameplay, and wherein a request to initiatecollaborative gameplay is processed after the indication is provided.15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: processing, by the oneor more physical processors, a query that requests to obtain informationrelated to users of the virtual space that use a particular class ofclient computing platform, wherein the requested information includes anidentification of the users that use the particular class of clientcomputing platform; identifying, by the one or more physical processors,directly or indirectly responsive to the query, one or more users of thevirtual space that use the particular class of client computingplatform, wherein the second user is identified as using the particularclass of client computing platform; and providing, by the one or morephysical processors, the identified second user to the first user,wherein the request to initiate collaborative gameplay is processedthereafter.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving,by the one or more physical processors, a provisioning request toprovide device information to one or more users of the virtual space,including receiving a provisioning request to provide device informationincluding the second set of information to one or more users of thevirtual space, such that the one or more users are made aware of thedevice information of the second user; and providing, by the one or morephysical processors, the device information including the second set ofinformation to the one or more users, wherein the one or more usersincludes the first user.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the deviceinformation provided to the one or more users includes deviceinformation associated with users specifically identified by the firstuser or are part of a larger set of users not identified by the firstuser.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiation ofcollaborative gameplay with the first user and the second user comprisesaddition of the first user to a relationship of which the second user isalready a member.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiation ofcollaborative gameplay with the first user and the second user comprisescreation of a new relationship and addition of the first user and thesecond user to the new relationship that was created.
 20. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: implementing, by the one or more physicalprocessors, user roles that are associated with an ability to perform anin-game action and/or associated with access to in-game content, andwherein different classes of client computing platforms are associatedwith different in-game actions and/or different access to in-gamecontent.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: assigning, bythe one or more physical processors, one or more in-game capabilitiesand/or one or more access to in-game content to the first user based onthe first set of device information.
 22. The method of claim 12, whereinthe request interface includes a device indicator such as a visualindicator, an audible indicator, and/or a tactile indicator.